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Pretoria - The Blue Bulls scored 13 tries as they trampled the Griffons 89-10 (halftime 26-3) in a North Section Vodacom Cup match at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Bulls had secured their bonus point by halftime as they raced into a lead of 26-3 thanks to two tries from number eight, Nardus van der Walt, and tries from Wiaan Liebenberg and Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Hansie Graaff slotted a penalty in the 19th minute to register the only points for the visitors in the first half as they struggled with their lineouts and were slaughtered in the scrums.
Sampie Mastriet made two good and purposeful runs down the left wing, which created the momentum for Van der Walt to score his tries in the seventh and 24th minutes. Willie du Plessis could only convert the second try, which was scored under the posts.
The Bulls were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute, which Du Plessis kicked to the corner. Liebenberg then crossed the line from the ensuing maul.
Three minutes later, a lovely break from Dries Swanepoel created space for his centre partner, Van Rensburg, to dot down under the posts. Du Plessis converted both tries to bring an end to the first half.
The second half became a one-sided affair as the Bulls ran in tries at will. They went over for their fifth try in the first minute after the restart, with Van Rensburg running strongly.
The Griffons were penalised for entering the ruck from the side just five metres from their own line. Rudy Paige, who had a pleasant afternoon behind the dominant Bulls scrum, took a quick tap and fed Jacques du Plessis.
The Griffons then replaced their entire front row to counter the Bulls dominance in the scrum, but it did not seem to help as the Bulls began to run riot.
Both Bulls' centres cut the line with ease. Swanepoel broke through the defences again, after a powerful run from Janse van Rensburg, to score under the posts for the first of his two tries.
Four minutes later, Swanepoel was on the scoresheet again, although the centre had to wait on a decision from the TMO regarding a potential forward pass.
The Bulls had vaulted into a 47-3 lead within 11 minutes of the restart and the visitors' defence seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The men in blue scored another five tries in the space of 13 minutes as the Griffons had no answer to the swift and powerful running of the Bulls.
Claiton Blommetjies had his dancing shoes on at fullback, as he created chance after chance with his elusive running. His performance was rewarded in the 64th minute when he went over after a strong run by Van der Walt.
The Griffons, though, never gave up in trying to put points on the board, as they ran the ball from inside their 22-metre area, with Aubrey McDonald going over close to the posts.
Rubbing salt into the wound, the Bulls crossed the line for the 13th time through Mastriet after a neat cross-chip from Tony Jantjies, who replaced Willie du Plessis half way through the second half.
Scorers:
Blue Bulls - Tries: Nardus van der Walt (2), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (2), Dries Swanepoel (2), Wiaan Liebenberg, Jacques du Plessis, Courtnall Skosan, Vainon Willis, Claiton Blommetjies, Tony Jantjies, Sampie Mastriet. Conversions: Willie du Plessis (8), Jantjies (4)
Griffons - Tries: Aubrey McDonald. Conversion: Hansie Graaff. Penalty: Graaff.
